Mubarak appeals for Mideast peace at Mediterranean summit
(PARIS) - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called Sunday for Israelis and Palestinians to step up their efforts to reach a peace deal, at the opening of a Mediterranean summit in Paris.
"I call on (Palestinian) president Abu Mazen (Mahmud Abbas), and (Israeli) Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert, to pursue the path of negotiations to bring about total and global peace, to create an independent Palestinian state and open a new page in the Middle Eastern region," Mubarak said.
Olmert and Abbas were among more than 40 leaders gathered in Paris for the launch of a new Union for the Mediterranean, which aims to boost cooperation in one of the world's most volatile regions.
Though the two sides have met regularly since the relaunch of the process last November, after a seven-year hiatus, talks have stalled over the issue of Jewish settlements on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.
But Olmert said following talks with Abbas hosted Sunday by President Nicolas Sarkozy, that Israel and the Palestinians "have never been this close" to a peace deal.
Abbas meanwhile said that Sarkozy's "friendship" with both Israelis and Palestinians would enable him "to play an important role to help the peace process succeed in a few months."
According to a source close to the prime minister, Olmert promised Abbas to release a new group of Palestinian prisoners as "a gesture" of good will.
Text and Picture Copyright 2008 AFP. All other Copyright 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.
